Print coating stand



June 19, 1962 E. FISHER PRINT COATING STAND Filed June 16, 1960 m. mu a MM IR Mm www V. B

United States Patent O 3,039,128 PRINT COATING STAND Edward Fisher, 10318 Almira Ave., Cleveland 11, h10 Filed June 16, 1960, Ser. No. 36,671 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-268) This invention relates to a print-coating stand, more especially a stand that may =be used for coating photographic prints of the type requiring attention immediately after removal from the camera.

In the past, it as 'been common to carry out coating operations of this sort on a convenient table, as by placing the print on the surface of the table, bringing into contact with it an applicator impregnated with a suitable coating compound, and running the applicator back and forth over the print. This procedure has as a drawback the fact that if the applicator is permitted to extend over the edges of the print, the surface of the table, unless protected in some way, may be marred by the coating compound. Furthermore, it is not always an easy matter to hold the print irrnly in place with one hand while making use of the applicator with the other. If, as in the usual case, the print is held in position by means of the fingers, not only the print but the fingers as Well may be coated by lthe coating compound.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate these drawbacks. It does so by providing a strong, sturdy stand on which the print may be held while the applicator is being used to apply the coating compound. Preferably, the arrangement is such that at least a portion of the print is firmly engaged by a portion of the stand. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the print is held in place during the coating operation by a detent obviating any need for use of the fingers. This detent is self-releasing, as will appear below. In the course of the coating operation, the print is separated by the thickness of the stand from the table, thus protecting the table from possible damage by the coating compound.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective of the print-coating stand of the present invention with the applicator and the print in place on the stand.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical section on line 3 3l of FIGURE l, and

FIGURE 4 is a similar transverse vertical section showing the stand without the applicator and print as it appears after its removal from the table on which it is shown as resting in FIGURES 2 and 3.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, stand 1 takes the form of a hollow, box-like structure of synthetic resin. It consists of a top 2, long Side walls 3, short side walls 4, and a bottom 5. The latter engages the lower ends of a series of internal supporting ribs 6; see FIG- URES 2 to 4, inclusive. Ribs 6 are provided mainly to stifen the stand as a whole but serve also as abutments for bottom 5, which is cemented in position inside the bottom edges of the side walls.

Near one end of stand 1 a transversely extending channel 7 of arcuate cross section is formed in the material of which top 2 is made. Channel 7 is provided to accommodate applicator 8, which is of the type described in U.S. Patent 2,692,675. In the system of photography in connection with which such applicators are used, it is necessary to coat each print almost immediately upon removal from the camera in order to prevent fading or discoloration. Accordingly, an applicator such as applicator 3 is supplied in a small bottle packed with each roll of film. Channel 7, which has an arcuate bottom con- ,ice

forming in shape to the bottom of applicator 8, is a convenient place in which to rest applicator 8 immediately before and after using it.

In the drawings, print 9 is shown as provided with the usual broad triangular leader 10; see FIGURE l. By virtue of its shape, leader '10 is adapted to extend into and to center itself within the space underlying the bridge 11 appearing in FIGURES l to 4. Bridge 11 is provided with depending side portions or ends 12 and a depending rear portion 13. The depending ends 12 are so formed as (a) to allow clearance for insertion of the pointed leader 10, (b) to provide guides at each end of bridge 11 for proper positioning of the pointed leader 10, and (c) to stop the insertion movement at the proper depth.

Preferably, bridge 11, which is of synthetic resin, is cemented in place on top 2 with ends 12 thereof directly above side walls 3; see FIGURE 3.

On its lower face, bridge 11 is provided with gripping means 14 which, if desired, may be formed integrally with the bridge. Such means are shown in the drawings as taking the form of an oblong piece of sandpaper glued to the lower face of bridge 11. When stand 1 rests on a table, a considerable part of leader 10I is in engagement with the sandpaper. The rough surface of the sandpaper assists in precluding unintended displacement of the print, particularly when applicator 8 is being used to apply the coating compound.

Directly beneath gripping means 14 is a self-releasing detent 1S taking the -forrn of a weighted plunger 16 of generally cylindrical shape provided in the form shown with a rounded upper end 16a and a frusto-conical lower end 16h. Plunger 16 is further provided with a stop 17 a short distance below upper end 16a. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, stop 17 consists of a circular collar, although it may take other form if desired.

Stop 17 is adapted to engage and rest on a shoulder 18 at the base of a cylindrical chamber 19` in a circular post 20. The latter, which is formed integrally with top 2, is located below gripping means 14. It is characterized not only by chamber 19 but by a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore 21 which receives the shank of plunger 16. The walls of bore 21 guide plunger 16 in such fashion as to make for straight-line travel of the plunger. A circular opening 22 in the bottom of lthe stand permits post 20 to come into contact with the table when stand 1 is being used for coating; see FIGURE 2.

Under the same circumstances, the lower end 16h of plunger 16 likewise makes contact with the table, which forces plunger 16 upward into engagement with leader 10. As a result, leader 10 is pushed upward as shown in FIG- URE 2, thus bringing it into contact with gripping means 14. In consequence, print 9 is held firmly in place on stand 1. Applicator 8 may then `be used to coat the top surface of the print in the usual way.

Upon completion of coating operations, applicator 8 may be returned to the bottle in which it was originally supplied, after which the stand may be lifted from the table to release leader 10. What happens may be seen from FIGURE 4, in which plunger 16, which is of massive proportions, is shown as having `dropped by gravity into its fully retracted position. At this stage, stop 17 engages shoulder 18 at the base of chamber 19 in post 20. The lower end of plunger 16 projects downwardly beyond the bottom of the stand. This is the normal non-operating condition in that it tends to continue until such time as the stand is again lbrought into contact With the table.

Thus the invention provides an especially convenient stand for print coating, particularly one in which the print may be held rmly in position as long as needed but in which the self-releasing action of plunger 16 permits withdrawal of the print as soon as the stand is removed from 3 the table. The operation of coating the print is not performed on the table itself, the iinish of which might be blemished by the coating compound, but is done on the stand under conditions such that the coating composition is not likely to come into contact with the table top. The applicator likewise need not come into contact with the table top but if desired may remain in channel 7 when not being used for coating purposes until such time as it is to be returned to the bottle in which it was supplied.

It is evident that in what has been shown and described changes may be made by those skilled in the art without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus stand l, instead of being box-like, may take the form of a block of wood, plastic, metal or other suitable material. The `detent need not consist of a weighted plunger but may take other forms and, if desired, may be urged into operative position by a spring. 'The bridge need not be formed or located as shown; if of other form, it may be mounted on the stand in some other fashion. If, as in the preferred form of the invention, the stand is of synthetic resin, neither the bridge nor the channel need be of the same material but if desired may be of metal, glass or the like, thus providing an attractive contrast.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by summarization in appended claims, all features of patentable novelty residing in the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A print coating stand comprising a base; means accommodating a coating applicator, said means forming a part of the base; structure on the base for receiving the print to be coated; a hollow post within the base; and a plunger Supported in the post for movement between a rst position in which it projects from the base and a second position in which it engages the lower face of the print to be coated.

2. A print coating stand comprising a base; a bridge on the base for receiving the print to be coated; guide means within the base; a plunger associated therewith, said plunger being adapted for movement between a iirst position in which it projects from the guide means and a second position in which it engages the print to be coated; and a plunger stop which, when the plunger is in said irst position, bears against an abutment on the guide means.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,108,929 Straeten Feb. 22, 1938 2,969,766 Distel et al Jan. 3l, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 149,823 Great Britain July 6, 1936 

